Universal multiple drill head



A. A. HERZBERG ET AL UNIVERSAL MULTIPLE DRILL HEAD Aug. 18, 1936.

Original Filed Oct. 8,1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 f Z, and V 0. Jchal 5. Tamp%m mm M 6 m M 4 Aug. 18, 1936.

A. A, HERZBERG ET AL UNIVERSAL MULTIPLE DRILL HEAD 9 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Oct. 8, 1931 Han 9 Sheefs-Sheet a L A. A. HERZBERG ET ALUNIVERSAL MULTiPLE DRILL HEAD Ofiginal Filed Oct. 8, 19:51

Aug. 18, 1936 I and Aug. 18, 1936. A A. HERZBERG El AL 20,063

UNIVERSAL MULTIPLE DRILL HEAD Original Filed Oct. 8, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet4 Aug. 18, 1936. A. A. HERZBERG El AL 20,068

UNIVERSAL MULTIPLE DRILL HEAD Original Filed Oct. 8/1931 9 Sheets-Sheet5 d a ma mw m m aa fl J5. mg

Aug. 18, 1936. A. A. HERZBERG El AL 20,068

UNIVERSAL MULTIPLE DRILL HEAD Original Filed Oct. 8, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet6 egg, 2, and 4215:.

I fjaw /g/ 0 Schulz John J. firm 0 m, M MW 42m Aug. 18, 1936. A. A.HERZBERG ET AL 20,058

UNIVERSAL MULTIPLE DRILL HEAD Original Filed Oct. 8, 1931 9 Sheet S-Sheet 7 I Z k v. 3% Jam? Z 7% egg Aug. 18, 1936 'A. A. HERZBERG ET ALRe- 20,068

UNIVERSAL MULTIPLE DRILL HEAD Original Filed Oct. 8, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet8 Qvzforz d fierzbc g, fififg/ 0. Jcfzaifs, and John J: ZZZ/72 06065.

Aug. 18, 1936. A. A. HERZBERG ET AL 20,063

Y UNIVERSAL MULTIPLE DRILL HEAD Original Filed Oct. 8, 1931- 9Sheets-Sheet 9 Reissued Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEUNIVERSAL MULTIPLE DRILL HEAD Original No. 1,967,307, dated July 24,1934, Serial October 8, 1931.

Mplicaticn for reissue June 1, 1936, Serial No. 82,942

10 Claim.

This invention relates to multiple drill heads, and more particularly towhat we term a universal multiple drill head, which drill head permitsof an unlimited number of variations in the arrangement of the drillspindles within the scope of the head.

Multiple drill heads are extensively used in commercial plants fordrilling a plurality of openings or recesses in various articles. It isthe common practice to provide a pattern plate upon which the drillspindles are arranged according to the openings or recesses to bedrilled, after which the head is built up with suitable gearing arrangedto accord with the arrangement of the spindles for driving the latter.This means that for each job it is necessary to construct a new drillhead, which is a time consuming and expensive operation. 7

In order to avoid the necessity of constructing a. new drill head foreach job, it has been proposed to provide universal joint drives for thespindles with a view to allowing some latitude in the arrangementthereof. This has proved to be unsatisfactory, and in many instancesaltogether impractical, since the universal drives restrict the extentto which the spindles can be adjusted to meet varying conditions. theuniversal joint drives for the spindles is that such joints aremechanically weak and are not well adapted to withstand the severestresses to which they are unavoidably subjected in use, while suchjoints also introduce an objectionable amount of friction. It is theusual practice in drives of this type to provide connecting spindlesbetween the driving members and the driven members, which isobjectionable in that such connecting spindles make it extremely dimcultand frequently impossible to make close center: to-center set ups.

One of the main objects of our invention is to provide a drill headcomprising means whereby a positive transmission of power through gearsto the gear spindles is assured, the spindles being rigid and free ofuniversal joints or equivalent flexible connections. A further object isto provide a head of this character embodying a plurality of take-offgears and spindle assemblies so related that a positive drive from thegears to the spindles is assured in any position of the latter relativeto the former within the scope of the head. An additional objectof ourinvention is to provide a multiple drillhead in which the takeoff gearsare so disposed that the spindles may be driven therefrom in anyarrangement of the spindles within the scope of the head, it only beingA further objection to necessary to provide a new spindle support foreach job, the spindles being arranged thereon in accordance with thepattern of the particular job, all necessity for constructing thegearing in accordance with the particular job being eliminated, thuseffecting a material saving in adapting the head for any given job.Further objects and advantages of our invention will appear from thedetailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a two-way drilling machine illustrating twodrill heads in accordanc with our invention as applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an inner end or face view of the drill head of our inventionwith a. plurality of spindle assemblies and associated drills mountedthereon;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but with the spindle assemblysupporting structure removed to disclose the take-oft gears;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, butwith the spindle assembly supporting structure and the associatedspindle assemblies in place;

Figure 5 is 'a longitudinal sectional view through one of the spindleassemblies and asso ciated parts, on an enlarged scale, parts beingshown in elevation;

Figure 6 is a detail view, partly broken away and in section, of one ofthe take-oil gears and the mounting therefor;

Figure '7 is a detail view, partly in section, of a modified form ofidler pinion for driving the spindles, and the mounting therefor;

Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the take-oil gearsand some of the various possible positions of the spindle idler pinionin mesh with the take-oil gears;

Figure 9 is an outer face view of the template for positioning thespindle idler pinions;

Figure 10 is a section taken substantially on I line Ill-Ill of Figure9;

Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the rela tion of one of the templateopenings to the corresponding take-ofi gear, and the manner ofpositioning the pinion of one of the gear assemblies to mesh with thetake-oh gear;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary detail, on an enlarged scale, of the templateand a jig as applied to the spindle assembly supporting structure forpositioning the pinion of a spindle assembly;

Figure 13 is a section taken substantially on line I3--I3 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating the overlap of the eflective areasof the respective take-oil gears when triangular arrangement thereof isemployed; and

Figure 15 is a diagram illustrating the overlap of the effective areasof the respective take-off gears when quadrangular arrangement thereofis employed.

In Figure 1 of the drawings we have illustrated, by way of example, twodrill heads I, constructed in accordance with our invention, as appliedto a two-way drilling machine. Each of these heads is mounted upon abase 2 which has dovetail connection with a bed plate 3 mounted uponframe 4 of the machine. The drill heads are disposed at opposite sidesof a jig 5 suitably mounted upon the machine, this jig holding the workpiece 9 in a known manner. An electric motor 1 has driving connectionswith each of the drill heads, this motor being mounted upon base plate2. The drill heads are moved toward and away from the work in anysuitable or preferred manner, as by means of hydraulic cylinders 9 inwhich operate pistons, the rods 9 of which are suitably connected tobase plates for moving the same, and the parts carried thereby,lengthwise of bed plate 3 in either direction desired. In practice, oneor more drill heads may be employed, and any suitable or preferred meansmay be provided for causing relative movement between the drill head andthe work in proper direction, as conditionsv may require.

Referring more particularly to Figure 4, the head comprises threebox-like sections III, II, and I2 which increase in depth toward thefront of the head, these sections being bolted or otherwise suitablysecured together in abutting relation. A spindle assembly supportingstructure I3 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the front ofsection I! and provides a closure therefor.

The sections Ill, II and I2, and the structure |3 are shown as ofrectangular shape in front view, as in Figures 2 and 3, but thesemembers may be of any suitable or preferred shape and, while wepreferably provide a sectional casing for the head, as shown in Figure4, any suitable or preferred type of casing may be employed.

A back plate I! is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to section IIIand provides a closure for an opening I5 through theback thereof. Amain,

drive shaft I3, which may be the shaft of motor 1, extends through anopening l1 through plate II, this opening being closed by a sealingplate l9, conveniently bolted to plate I, this sealing plate carrying astufflng box or oil seal H! of suitable type through which the shaft l6passes. A spur pinion 20 is keyed upon the inner or forward end of shaftl6 and meshes with a spur gear 2| disposed in the upper portion ofopening "I and keyed upon a countershaft 22 which extends through platei4 and the outer or back walls of sections II and II. The countershaft22 is mounted in a suitable anti-friction bearings, such as rollerbearings 23 of known type, disposed in plate I9 and the outer or backwalls of sections II and I2 of the casing. A sealing cap 220. is securedto the outer face of plate It and encloses the outer end of countershaft22 and the associated bearings to provide an oil seal thereabout.

A primary drive pinion 24 is keyed on countershaft 22 within the casingsection II. This pinion meshes with pinions 25, disposed within thecasing section II and keyed upon stub shafts 26 rotatably mountedthrough the back walls of casing sections II and I2, in suitableanti-friction bearings such as the roller bearings 23a of known I type.As will be noted more clearly from Figure 3, three stub shafts 23 aredisposed about the countershaft 22 equidistant therefrom, and each ofthese stub shafts has a pinion 23 keyed thereon and meshing with theprimary drive pinion 29. The pinions 25 which are keyed on the stubshafts 23-mesh with similar pinions 21 keyed on stub shafts 29 mountedin roller bearings 23:: mounted in the back walls of easing sections Hand I2. These pinions 21 also mesh with pinions 25 keyed upon adjacentstub shafts 23. The stub shafts 26 project through the back wall or gearplate |2a of easing section l2 and extend forwardly thereof. A take-offgear or driving member 29 is suitably secured upon the forward end ofstub shafts 2B distributed throughout the entire area of gear plate |2aand these stub shafts are all driven from the primary pinion 29, eitherdirectly or through the intermeshing pinions 25 and 21, the pinionsbeing so related that the stub shafts 23 are all driven in the samedirection.

The stub shafts 23 are so related that the takeoff gears 29 are disposedin predetermined geometric arrangement. In the preferred formof ourinvention illustrated in Figure 3, the takeoff gears 29 are arranged toform a series of contiguous and equilateral triangles, the distancebetween any two adjacent gears being uniform throughout the series. Inlaying out the arrangement of the take-oil gears in equilateral trianglepattern, the spacing of the centers of the take-off gears or the side ofa triangle depends upon the pitch diameters of the, gears 29 and 3| andpinion 30. The relation between the size of the triangle and the pitchdiameters is such that a take-off gear 29 can be operatively connectedby an intermediate pinion 30 to a spindle gear 3| located at the centerof the triangle. If the pitch diameters of the gears and pinion areadequate for this location of the spindle, then it'is clear that aspindle can be located anywhere within the triangle and operativelyconnected to at least one of the take-off gears 29 defining thattriangle.

Referring to the upper portion of Figure 8, it will be noted that wehave shown a spindle gear 3| located at the center 0 of the triangledefined by three take-off gears 29. The gear 3| may be connected to anyone of the gears 29 by means of a pinion 30. In this case the centers ofthe gears 29 and 3| and pinion 39 are in a straight line. It will benoted that the distance from an angle to the center of the circle iswhere Dr is the pitch diameter of the take-off gear 29, Dr is the pitchdiameter of the pinion 3|! and Do is the pitch diameter of the spindlegear 3|. Consequently, the side of the triangle is and the distancebetween the pitch circles of the take-oi! gears along the side of atriangle is center is 2D'r, the side of the triangle is 2 D or 3.464 D:-and the distance between the pitch circles of the take-off gears alongthe side of a triangle is 2.464 Dr. It will be understood that thetriangle may be made smaller than indicated by these dimensions, but ifit is made larger there will be an area around the center 0 in which aspindle cannot be centered.

In Figure 8 we have indicated an idler pinion indicated, pinion 30 andgear 3i being of the same pitch diameter asthe take-oil! gears 29 sothat the distance between the axis of spindle gear 3| and the mostremote point on the pitch circle of pinion 3|! is equal to one andone-half times the pitch diameter of the take-off gears 29. If thespindle gear 3| be so disposed that its axis coincides with the centerpoint 0 of the triangle, pinion 30 may be positioned to mesh with anyone of the three take-oil! gears 29 as indicated by the positions A, Al,and A2 of idler pinion 30. Obviously, if the axis of spindle gear 3|falls at any point within the triangle other than the center pointthereof, the pinion 39 may be moved into mesh with at least one of thetakewif gears 29. If the axis of spindle gear 3| falls upon any side ofthe triangle, and at the center point of such side, pinion 30 may bemoved into mesh with either of the two take-oil gears 29 at the ends ofthe side of the triangle. If the axis of spindle gear 3| falls upon anyside of the triangle and at any point thereof other than the centerpoint, the pinion 30 can be moved into mesh with the nearer one of thetwo take-off gears 29 at the ends of such side. Since the take-oil?gears 29 are uniformly spaced, and the equilateral triangles defined bysuch gears are contiguous, it follows that a pinion adjustable on anaxis spaced from the most remote point of the pitch circle of suchpinion a distance equal to one and one-half times the pitch diameter ofthe respective take-off gears, can be disposed to mesh with a selectedone of the take-ofl gears in any position of such axis relative to thetake-oil gears.

With further reference to Figure 8, the circle 32 concentric with therespective take-of! gears 29 and of a radius equal to one and one-halftimes the pitch diameter of such take-off gear, may be considered asdefining the effective area of this gear with relation to the idlerpinion 30 and the spindle gear 3|. Since this circle passes through theaxis of spindle gear 3|, it is obvious that if the axis of this spindlegear falls-at any point on the circle 32, the idler pinion 30 may bedisposed to mesh withthecorresponding take-oi! gear 29. In Figure 8, thecircles 32 described about the take-off gears 29 defining the centraltriangle of this figure, intersect at the center point e of thetriangle. It follows, therefore, as previously noted that when the axisof spindle gear 3| coincides with the center point of the triangle, thepinion 33 may be positioned to mesh with any one of the three take-ofl'gears defining such triangle. If the axis of the spindle gearfallswithin the circle 32 defining the effective area of any one of thetake-off gears 29, the idler pinion may be disposed to mesh with thecorresponding takeoff gear at either side thereof, as indicated by thepositions 13 and Bi of the idler pinion at the lower central portion ofFigure 8. It will be noted that the circles defining the effective areasof the respective take-oil gears overlap. If the axis of spindle gear 3|falls at any point within the area of overlap of the circles definingthe eifective areas of two adjacent take-oi! gears, the idler pinion 33can be positioned to mesh with either one of these two adjacent take-oi!gears at either side thereof. At the lower left hand portion of Figure 8we have shown the spindle gear 3| disposed with the axls thereof at thevcenter point of the area of overlap between two adjacent circles of twoadiacent take-oil gears. As indicated, the 5 idler pinion 3|! may occupyany one of the four positions 0, C2, C3 or Cl, in any one of whichpositions it will mesh with eithervone or the otherv of the two adjacenttake-oil gears. It follows. therefore, that if the axis of the spindlegear 3| falls at any point within the area of overlap of the twocircles, the idler pinion may be disposed to mesh with either one of thetwo adjacent takeoif gears at either side thereof.

The spindle assembly supporting structure i3 1 provides a pattern platefor supporting the spindle assemblies in predetermined relation toaccord with the work to be done. This structure or pattern plate isfirst laid oil and marked to indicate the proper disposition of thespindles thereon, 20 after which it is suitably bored for reception ofthe spindle assemblies. Each spindle assembly includes a bearing sleeve33 which fits snugly through aligned openings in the plate or structurei3. Suitable bushings 34 and 35, provided 25 'at theirouter ends withoutwardly projecting the rearward end of which abuts a ring 39 of athrust ball bearing assembly of suitable type which seats against theouter end of sleeve 33. Spindle 36 is thus mounted for free rotation andis effectively held against endwise movement. The socket 33 receives adrill chuck 4i of known type having a tapered bore for reception of thetapered shank of a suitable drill 42. An'adjusting ring 43 screws ontothe chuck 4| and bears against the outer end of socket 38 for adjustingthe chuck lengthwise :in the socket to vary the eflfective length of thedrill as conditions may bequire. A key 44, suitably secured in thesocket -member 38, projects into a groove 45 extending lengthwise of thechuck and serves to hold the latter against turning movement in thesocket. A set screw 46, threaded through the wall of the socket 39,projects into a groove 41 extending from the outer end of the chuck 4|and terminating a short distance inwardly of the threaded portion of thechuck, to normally prevent complete withdrawal of the chuck from thesocket.

Sleeve 33 is provided, at its inner end, with a radially projecting arm43 which contacts the inner face of the pattern plate. This arm isprovided with r. bore which registers with a corresponding bore throughinner wall |3a of plate l3. The aligned bores of arm 49 and plate |3areceive an enlarged hub 49 at the outer end of a stud shaft Iii, therebeing a shoulder 5| at the inner end of the hub, which shoulder contactsthe inner face of arm-49. Hub 49 is suitably bored and threaded from itsouter end for reception of a securing bolt 52 which passes through anopening 33 in outer wall i3b of plate i3, this opening 53 beingconcentric with hub 49. The head of bolt 32 bears upon a lock washer 54which bears against the outer face of plate i3. The bolt 52, inconjunction with the stud shaft and arm 49,

provides means for. efiectively securing sleeve 33 v in position and forholding this sleeve against endwise movement.

Idler pinion 30 is rotatably mounted upon suitable bushings 55 disposedabove the stud shaft 59, each of these bushings having an outwardlyextending flange at its outer end. A stop collar 55 is suitably securedupon stud shaft 50 adjacent the inner end thereof and contacts theflange of the inner bushing 55, this collar and the bushings cooperatingto hold pinion 32 against endwise movement on the stud shaft. The pinion32 meshes with spindle gear 3|, this pinion and the spindle gear beingof the same pitch diameter as the take-oil gear 29. In Figure 5 thespindle 36 is shown as disposed coaxially with the stub shaft 26, andthe pinion 32 meshes with gear 29 of such stub shaft 26. Preferably, apilot plate 51 is bolted, or otherwise suitably secured to gear plate 23at the forward or outer face thereof. This pilot plate is provided withopening 58 disposed to accommodate the shafts 26, and with pilotopenings 59 disposed to receive studs 6|) at the inner ends of the studshafts 53. The studs Gil fit snugly into the openings 59, plate 51serving to hold the inner ends of shafts '50 against undesirablemovement so as to maintain the pinions 32 in proper mesh with thecooperating take-off gears 29. 4

It occasionally happens that a spindle 30 is disposed coaxially with oneof the stub shafts 26, as in Figure 5, though it will be found that, asa general rule, the spindles are disposed eccentric to the stub shafts.In order to locate the pinions 32 of the respective spindle assembliesso as to assure proper mesh of the pinions with the takeoff gears, weprovide a template and jig such as those illustrated in Figures 9 to 13.The template comprises a rectangular plate GI and a reenforcing angleframe 62 therefor, this frame being riveted or otherwise suitablysecured to the plate. A guide stud 53 is suitably secured to each sideof the template, centrally thereof, these stubs being adapted to entercorresponding openings 64 provided at the center of each side of plateI3 so as to accurately position the template relative thereto. Whenplate'l3 is in operative position upon the drill head, the openings 54receive guide studs 65 at the center of each side of easing section I2and projecting forwardly therefrom, such studs positioning plate I3accurately relative to section l2.

The template is provided with a plurality of circular openings 56extending through plate 6|. These openings 66 are of a radius equal toone and one-half times the pitch diameter of the respective take-offgears 29, as indicated in Figure 11. The openings 66 of the template areso disposed that, with the template properly positioned upon therearward or inner face of pattern plate I3 with the studs 63 insertedinto openings 64,, if the pattern plate IS, with the template mountedthereon, were disposed in operative relation to the casing section I2the template openings 65'. would be disposed concentrically with therespective take-off gears 29. Since the radius of the template openings56 is equal to one and onehalf times the pitch diameter of the take-offgears 29. and the take-off gears are of the same pitch diameter as thepinions 32 and the spindle gears 3|, it follows that if the pinions ofany selected spindle assembly be disposed within any one of the templateopenings 66 and in contact with the surrounding wall of such opening,this pinion will be disposed to mesh with the corresponding take-offgear when the pattern plate I3 is disposed in operative position uponthe drill head.

To facilitate positioning of the pinions of the spindle assemblieaweprovide a jig including a stub shaft 61 provided at one end with aradially projecting arm 53 from the face of which remote from stub shaft61 extends a projection 39 of cylindrical shape and corresponding inpitch diameter to the pitch diameter of the respective pinions 30. Theprojection 69 and arm 68 are bored to provide an opening III toaccommodate a suitable tool for spotting or marking the inner face ofwall Ila; of plate I3 to indicate thereon the proper positioning of theopenings to be bored to accommodate the hubs 49 of stud shafts 50. Stubshaft 61 corresponds in diameter to the exterior diameter ofspindlesleeve 33 and is adapted to be inserted through aligned openings boredthrough walls 13a and H17 of pattern plate l3 for reception of thespindle sleeve. After the pattern plate I3 has been suitably bored forreception of the spindle sleeves, in accordance with the work to bedone,'the shafts 61 of the jigs are inserted through the openingsthusprovided in plate l3 and are secured in position in a suitable manner.Conveniently, we provide clamping means each of which includes an anglemember II which bears at one end against the outer face of wall i3b ofplate l3. A pressure screw 12 threads through member 1i adjacent theother end thereof and is provided with a head 13 which bears against theouter face of wall I31; and is connected to the screw by a loose nutconnection. For con- 1 venience in operating the screw a hand wheel I4is suitably secured on the outer end thereof. Member II is providedintermediate the ends thereof with an opening 15 which accommodates abolt Hi, the head of which bears against the outer face of member II,this bolt screwing into the outer end of stub shaft 61 which is suitablybored and threaded for this purpose. In practice, the number of jigspreferably corresponds to the number of spindle assemblies to be mountedupon the plate I3. After the jigs have been positioned properly uponplate I3, the template is then mounted upon the inner face of thepattern plate I3 which may conveniently be supported in invertedposition in a suitable manner. At this time the jigs are not clampedtightly in position, the stub shafts 61 of the respective jigs beingfree to turn. Arms 63 of the respective jigs are then turned about theaxis of the respective shafts 61, by turning the latter, so that theprojection 69 of each of the jigs is brought into contact with thesurrounding wall of an adjacent opening 66 of the template. Bolt 15 isthen turned into shaft 61 so as to force the arm 63 tightly against theinner face of wall I3a thus clamping the jig tightly to plate l3 andeffectively preventing movement of arm 68. The inner face of wall l3a isthen marked to indicate the center point or axis of opening I, by meansof a suitable tool inserted through this opening. After the plate I3 hasthus been marked to indicate the proper position of the axes of thepinions 32 to assure mesh thereof with the take-ofl gears 29, thetemplate and the jigs may be removed, after which the walls Ba and l3bare suitably bored at the points indicated for reception of the hubs 49of the stud shafts 50, and the bolts 52. The plate I3 is then ready forreception of the spindle assemblies. The sleeves 32 and the spindlescarried thereby are then inserted through the sleeve receiving openingsof plate I3, and hubs Q9 of the stud shafts 53 are inserted through theadjacent openings through wall l3a, after which bolts are insertedthrough the corresponding openings of wall lib and are screwed into thehubs it. In this manner the spindle assemblies are secured in positionupon plate I. and the pinions .30 of such assemblies are accuratelypositioned to assure mesh thereof with the corresponding takeoff gears29.

For each new Job it is only necessary to make up a new pattern plate It,and proper mesh of the pinions of the spindle assemblies mounteduponthis plate with the take-oil? gears is assured in any position of thespindles upon plate It. This avoids all necessity for making up a newgear assembly for each-new job, as is the present practice, thuseffecting a material saving in time and cost. In this connection, it isto be noted that the guide studs 65, and the openings 64 of the patternplate, assure that all of the pattern plates for use on any given headwill be accurately positioned thereon in similar and predeterminedrelation to the head. Also, the guide studs 83 of the templatescooperate with openings 64 of the pattern plates to assure that thetemplates will be accurately positioned upon each of the pattern platesfor use with a given head in similar and predetermined relation to suchpat.- tern plate, such template when so positioned bearing a definiteand predetermined relation to the take-off gears or drive members 29, aspreviously explained.

With the triangular arrangement of the takeoff gears, such gears may beconsidered as disposed in contiguous groups of seven, each groupcomprising a central gear and six outer gears disposed so that the axesthereof define a regular hexagon, this hexagon comprising sixequilateral triangles, as shown in Figure 14. The hexagon is inscribedwithin a circle 80 having a radius equal to one side of the respectivetriangles. As previously noted, the effective areas of the takeotfspindles, indicated by the circles 32 overlap. the area of this overlapbeing indicated at 3211 in Figure 14. We also contemplate arranging thetake-oil gears so as to define regular geometric figures other thantriangles. In Figure 15 we have indicated, diagrammatically, thearrangement of the take-oil gears 29 in such manner that the axes of anyfour adjacent gears define an equilateral quadrilateral or square. Withthis arrangement of the gears it will be noted that the area of overlap32c of the effective areas of the respective gears, indicated by thecircles 22b, is much greater than the area of overlap when the take-offgears are disposed in triangular arrangement. This means that when thegears are disposed to define squares, a greater number of gears isrequired than where they are disposed to define triangles. We prefer,therefore, to dispose the gears in the triangular arrangement previouslydescribed, though our invention comprehends, in its broader aspect, anysuitable or preferred geometric arrangement of the takeoil." gears toaccomplish the desired results.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention,

we have used the pitch diameter of the respective take-oil gears as thebasis for determining the spacing thereof, the spindle gears and thetake-off gears at an angle of that figure.

nected by an intermediate pinion to one of the Referring to Figure 8,and as previously noted, the distance from the center point of thetriangle defined by the axes of three adjacent take-off gears 29, andthe nearest points on the pitch circles of these gears, is such that thepinion may be positioned to mesh with at least one of the gears I in anyposition of the spindle axes within the triangle or on any side thereof.Since the takeoff gears and the spindle gears and pinions are all of thesame pitch diameter, in the preferred embodiment of our inventionillustrated, this distance is equal to one and one-half times the pitchdiameter of the respective gears. It is to be noted, however, that thisdistance may be varied within considerable limits. In example, if thedistance from the axis of the spindle gear to the most remote point onthe pitch circle of the pinion meshing with such gear is equal to thedistance from the center of the triangle to the nearest point on thepitch circle of the respective take-off gears defining the triangle,proper mesh of the pinion with at least one of the take-off gears isassured in any position of. the axis of 25 the spindle gear within thetriangle or on any side thereof, as before. It is thus apparent that thediameters of the gears and pinions may be varied within considerablelimits, to suit conditions, so long as the pitch diameters of thetakeof! gears, intermediate pinions and spindle gears enable the axis ofthe spindle gear to be placed at the point most remote from the take-offgears, which is the center of the geometrical figure formed by thetake-off gears. This rule holds true whether the take-oil. gears aredisposed in triangular arrangement, or in any other suitable orpreferred manner to define geometricfigures suitable for accomplishingthe desired results.

In Figure 6 we have shown one of the take-oil gears 29 removably mountedupon its associated stub shaft 26. The forward end of this shaft isreduced to provide a neck 8| for reception of gear 29. This neck isprovided with a diametrically extending bore 82 from which extends abore 83 of reduced diameter. A locking plunger 84 is slidably mountedthrough bore 83, the outer wrtion of this plunger engaging into a bore85 in gear 29. A stop plug 85 is suitably secured in bore 82, as bybeing a drive fit therein. An expansion coil spring 81 is confinedbetween this plug and the nose portion of plunger 84, which is boredfrom its inner end to provide a recess which receives the spring.Outward movement of plunger 84 is limited by a shoulder 88 at the innerend thereof which contacts a corresponding shoulder at the inner end ofbore 82. Gear 29 fits snugly about neck BI and seats, at its outer end,on a shoulder formed on shaft 26 at the inner end of neck 8|. Theplunger 8! may be moved inwardly into bore 83, by any suitableinstrument inserted through bore 85, thus permitting of the gear 29being removed from neck 8|. This provides eillcient but simple means foreffectively locking the gear in position upon neck 8| of shaft 26, whilepermitting removal and replacement of the take-oil! gears as conditionsmay require. In this manner, gears of proper diameter for the work to bedone can be placed upon the stub shafts 26 with facility and can beremoved quickly and with equal facility for replacement, repairs orother purposes.

In Figure 7, we have illustrated a modified form of spindle assemblypinion 28. This pinion comdrive from the take-oi! gear 18 with whichsection 9| of the pinion meshes, to the spindle gear with which sectionof the pinion meshes. In the construction illustrated in Figure 5, thespindle 36 is driven in the same direction and at the same speed as thetake-oil! gear 29. In a spindle assembly using the pinion of Figure 7,the spindle would be driven in the same direction as the take-oil. gearwith which section SI of the pinion meshes, but at a lower speed thansuch take-oi! gear. By employing take-ofl' gears of difierent diameters,or using compound pinions,

the spindles can be driven at any desired speed within limits. In anycase, the gears and pinion must enable a spindle gear located at thecenter of the geometric figure defined by the take-oil! gears to beconnected by the pinion to one of the take-oil gears. In the particulararrangement illustrated for driving the take-off gears, the pinion 20and the gear 2| provide a suitable speed reduction drive between shafti6 and countershaft 22. Any other suitable or preferred means may beprovided for driving the countershaft 22 and any suitable means otherthan the particular means illustrated may be employed for transmittingrotation to the take-oft gears.

In the preferred form of our invention, the spindles are driven from thetake-oil members or gears by pinion and gear means. In its broaderaspects, however, our invention comprehends any other equivalent drivingmeans for the spindles.

While we have illustrated and described our invention as applied to amultiple drill head, by way of example, it is not in any way restrictedto this one use, since it is also well adapted for analogous devicesand, in its broader aspects, is applicable to any type of head where itis desired to provide a multiple point take-oil from a common source ofpower. Also, we contemplate the use of one or more spindles in therespective spindle assemblies, as conditions may require.

What we claim is:

1. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality of take-offgears arranged in two series of rows, the rows of one series beingsubstantially perpendicular to the rows of the other series, and thegears being equally spaced and arranged in a series of geometricfigures, a pattern plate in advance of the gears, tool-receivingspindles on the pattern plate, gears secured on the respective spindles,and pinions meshing with the spindle gears and positionable about thespindle axes in the mounting of the spindles on the plate, the distancebetween the pitch circles of each take-oil gear and the center of anadjacent figure not exceeding the radius of a spindle gear and the pitchdiameter of the associatedpinion, whereby any spindle gear having acenter within said figure may be operatively connected with one of thetake-oil gears defining said figure, by means of one of said pinions.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality of take-offgears, a pattern plate in advance'of the gears, said gears being equallyspaced and arranged in parallel rows inclined transversely of the plate,said gears being arranged in a series of geometric figures,toolreceivlng spindles mounted on the plate, gears secured on the innerends of the respective spindles, and pinions meshing with the spindlegears and take-oil gears, the distance between t e center of each figureand any angle thereof not exceeding the sum of the pitch radius of aspindle gear, the pitch diameter of a pinion and the pitch radius of atake-oil gear, whereby a Pinion may be disposed on the pattern plate tomesh with one of the take-oil gears and with a spindle gear on the platelocated within a geometric figure as-- sociated with said take-off gear.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality of equallyspaced take-ofi gears arranged in a geometric figure pattern, a plate inadvance of the gears, tool receiving spindles mounted on the plate,spindle gears disposed outwardly beyond the take-oi! gears, and pinionsmeshing with the spindle gears and extending inwardly beyond the spindlegears for meshing with said take-oil? gears, the spindle gears andtake-oil gears and pinions being of such pitch diameter in relation tothe distance between the center of a figure to its angles that a spindlegear at said center may be operatively connected to a take-oil gear atany of said angles by means of a pinion.

4. In a, mechanism of the character described, a supportincluding a gearplate, a plurality of stub shafts rotatablymounted through the plate,take-01f gears secured on the stub shafts, said gears being disposed innon-meshing relation and equally spaced one from the other with thespaces therebetween unobstructed, a removable pattern plate in advanceof the gear plate, tool-receiving spindles mounted through the patternplate, and pinions having driving connection to the respective spindles,the pinions being eccentric to the spindles and extending into the planeof the gears, said pinions being connected to the spindles for movementthereabout prior to final mounting of the spindles in the pattern platefor mounting the pinions for mesh with the gears.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, a. support including agear plate, a plurality of stub shafts rotatably mounted through theplate, take-off gears secured on the stub shafts and disposed in apattern of similar unobstructed geometric figures, a removable patternplate in advance of the gear plate, tool-receiving spindles mounted onthe pattern plate, gears secured on pinions eccentric to and meshingwith the spindle gears and connected to the respective spindles formovement about the spindle axis prior to the final mounting of thespindles on the pattern plate, the sum of the pitch radius of a spindlegear and the pitch diameter of a pinion being at least equal to thedistance between the pitch circle of a take-oi! gear and the center ofan associated figure, whereby a spindle may be mounted on any centerwithin said figure and brought into operative connection with one of thetake-of! gears defining that figure by means of a pinion.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, a support including a gearplate, a plurality of stub shafts rotatably mounted through the plate,

take-oil gears secured on the stub shafts and disposed in equally spacedrelation'with a geometric figure pattern, each figure beingunobstructed,-a removable pattern plate in advance of the gear plate,tool-receiving spindles mounted on the pattern plate, gears secured onthe inner ends of the respective spindles and disposed outwardly beyondthe take-off gears, and pinions meshing with the spindle gears andextending inwardly therebeyond for meshing with the takeoff gears, saidpinions being in eccentric relation to the spindles, the distancebetweenthe pitch r the inner ends of the respective spindles, and

circle of one of the take-oi! gears and the center of an adjacent figurebeing such that a spindle gear having its center at the center of saidfigure may be operatively connected to said take-oil! gear.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality oi non-meshingtake-oi! gears disposed in spaced geometric arrangement to provide aseries of contiguous equilateral polygons, the space within therespective polygons being unobstructed, a pattern plate in advance ofthe gears, tool-receiving spindles mounted on the pattern plate, gearssecured on the inner ends of the respective spindles and pinions ineccentric relation to and meshing with the spindle gears, the distancebetween the pitch circle of any take-oil gear and the center of thepolygon not exceeding the sum of the pitch radius or the spindle gearand the pitch diameter of the associated pinion whereby a spindle gearmay be centered at any point within the polygon and operativelyconnected to one of the take-oi! gears by means of a pinion.-

8. In a mechanism 01' the character described, a plurality ofnon-meshing take-ofl. gears disposed in spaced geometric arrangement toprovide a series of contiguous equilateral triangles, the space withinthe respective triangles being unobstructed, a pattern plate in advanceof the gears, tool-receiving spindles mounted on the pattern plate,gears secured on the inner ends of the respective spindles, and pinionsmeshing with .the spindle gears and with the take-oil? gears, the

distance between the pitch circles of any two ad- Jacent take-oi! gearsbeing within where Dr is the pitch diameter of the intermediate pinion,D5 is the pitch diameter of the p 7 spindle gear and Dr is the pitchdiameter of the take-oil gear.

9. In amechanism of the character described, a plurality oi equallyspaced take-oi! gears defining an equilateral triangle, a pattern platein advance of the gears, tool-receiving spindles mounted in the plate,gears, secured on the inner ends 01' the spindles, and pinions meshingwith the respective spindle gears and adjustable about the spindle axesprior to the final mounting oi thespindles in the plate, the spacewithin the triangle being free for reception of the spindle gears andpinions and the distance between the centers of any two adjacenttake-oi! gears not exceeding where Dr is the pitch diameter of theintermediate pinion, D5 is the pitch diameter of the spindle gear and Dris the pitch diameter of the take-oi! gear;

10. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality 0! equallyspaced take-oil gears defining an equilateral triangle, a pattern platein advance of the gears, tool-receiving spindles mounted in the plate,gears secured on the inner ends of the spindles, and pinions meshingwith the respective spindle gears and adjustable about the spindle axesprior to the final mounting of the spindles in the plate, the spacewithin the triangle being i'ree for reception of the spindle gears andpinions and the distance from the center 01' the triangle to the pitchcircles of the respective take-0H gears being within the pitch radius ofthe spindle gear plus the pitch diameter of the spindle pinion. a

ANTON A. HERZBERG. HENRY O. SCHULTZ. JOHN S. TUMPAK.

